The audience wasn’t the only one surprised to see Rajeev Khandelwal as an antagonist in Bloody Daddy. It turns out the actor was equally surprised that director Ali Abbas Zafar envisioned him as the sly Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Singh. So much so that Khandelwal was initially hesitant about taking up the role.

“I know that people have an image of me [as the good guy]. So, to essay the role of a baddie with that [notion] in my head was difficult. Subconsciously, I thought I may not be able to convince people that I am sly and manipulative. But Ali was sure that it would be interesting to have me play this role. Shahid [Kapoor, leading man] said the same thing when I met him on the set,” says the actor.

It looks like Khandelwal was fated to be a part of the project, which is an adaptation of the French film, Blanche Nuit (2011). He reveals that the Hindi adaptation was offered to him before, where he was to play the lead.

The people, who had the film’s rights, wanted me to co-produce it too. I refused because I didn’t want to produce at that stage of my career. After imagining myself as the [protagonist], it was challenging to portray a character from the antagonist’s perspective.”

Even harder was pulling off a five-minute hand-to-hand combat scene with Kapoor. Khandelwal shares that he ended up injuring himself severely while filming the set-piece. “It was one of the high points of the film, and would be shot over three days. On the day of the shoot, I ended up having a ligament and meniscus tear. At the time, I didn’t know the severity of the injury. I put a lot of ice packs, and thought I could have another go at the scene after talking to the physiotherapist. But Ali and Shahid asked me to rest.”

While the team was ready to push the shoot, Khandelwal insisted on filming the sequence. “After that, I couldn’t even get up. By evening, I had to get an MRI done and was told that surgery was the only option. When I insisted on completing the scene, they said I could stand and sit with the help of a knee brace. Next day, I wore the brace, and finished the entire fight sequence.”

Zee5, one of the most popular web streaming platforms of India has announced a new web series. Titled Naxal, it stars Rajeev Khandelwal (as Raghav), Tina Datta (Ketki), Aamir Ali (Keswani), Sreejita Dey (Prakriti) and Satyadeep Misra (Pahan). The makers of the show will start shooting soon, with appropriate and stringent safety measures.

The eight-episode action-packed series is a fictional account of a man fighting against a red uprising. It is a race against time for Raghav, a cop, who is up against all odds to save the day. It promises to be an action-packed series that alternates between the dense jungles of Maharashtra and metropolitan cities which increasingly have become hotbeds for the Naxal ideology.

“The cast and crew has undergone a major rejig because of the whole Coronavirus scenario. But eventually, we have very capable people on board. I am looking forward to working with Aamir, Satyadeep, Tina and others as my co-actors. I have never had the opportunity of working with any of them, so it makes it even more exciting. We have had table readings for the show, and I have used this time away from the set, to work on my character. I am hoping it is a treat for my fans because they have never seen me in a role like this. My character of the STF agent should surprise the audience because it has many shades to it, starting from humour and action to essaying a lot of emotions throughout the series”, says actor Rajeev Khandelwal.

"We are extremely excited to be working on this show with ZEE5. This show is extremely relevant in today's time in India. We have taken a topic that is plaguing India but ensured that we kept it entertaining. We are happy to have Rajeev Khandelwal playing the lead role along with other eminent cast and crew”, say Arjun Singgh Baran and Kartk D Nishandar of GSEAMS, who are the producers of Naxal.

Rajeev Khandelwal, who has made a mark as a film and TV actor along with being a host and singer, has now come up with yet another venture. On the social video app, Firework, the actor has launched his unique show called Reel, Reveal, Rajeev! Interestingly, it is a series of 30 second episodes in which the talented artist talks about his struggles, aspirations and his real life. The actor, who recently celebrated his birthday, claims this is his way of giving his viewers an ‘inside view of his world’. The aim of Rajeev Khandelwal is to inspire users with stories of inspiration, accomplishment and persistence. Users can interact with the star on a weekly basis by following his Firework account. LINK.

Reel, Reveal, Rajeev was launched with 6 videos by Rajeev Khandelwal by opening up about his acting journey and the lessons that guided him on the way. He also shared key insights into life motivations when he is faced with challenges and the myths associated with beginners. In the coming episodes, he will talk on various topics like his choice of roles, his beliefs, his vision for the industry, his passion to cook, his love for growing everything organic to beliefs that have carved a niche for him.

Speaking on his presence on Firework, Rajeev Khandelwal says, “My acting career has seen several shades, where struggles have been a key link to my success today. Early in life, while I failed several times on stage, I chose to stay committed to my dream and work towards it. Based on my experience, I advise acting aspirants to not be misguided and rely on ones’ own capabilities instead of rooting for connections. I believe my struggles are real and I have the opportunity to voice myself effectively. I have a story to be told and am happy to share my story through this versatile platform. The makers of the app have been proactive in differentiating this app in this cluttered short video space. The features in the app are safe and interesting to use, which was the key reason for me to share my closest thought on Firework. I look forward to interacting with users on stories of my life.”

Speaking on this announcement, Mr Sunil Nair, CEO, Firework India informs, “Rajeev is an impeccable actor and is accomplished across platforms. His diligence, passion and commitment are noteworthy which the users will applaud through this journey into the world of Rajeev Khandelwal. This is a great opportunity to know the man behind the screen. Firework will give him an opportunity to be candid about his experiences in life and career. We are excited to have him on our platform and looking forward to bring his passion to life and creatively give our viewers such inspiring stories in 30 second segments.”

Firework became the fastest social video app to achieve 1 million users in only 5 months while still in beta, growing 200% + with each passing quarter. Firework strives to remain relevant and give users every opportunity to stay meaningful with a seamlessly experience delivering a new view from their lens.

Rajeev Khandelwal on how his latest offering, Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala, helped him explore a new artistic facet
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; October 8, 2019)

Given his knack for offbeat projects, you would expect Rajeev Khandelwal to steer clear of rom-coms. However, the actor emphasises at the outset that Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala is far from a run-of-the-mill love story. Over to Khandelwal as he talks about the ALTBalaji and Zee5 offering that is making waves online.

Considering You've Attempted Romantic Dramas Before, What Made You Greenlight Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala?
When I first heard the story, I turned it down. However, the makers called me for a narration again, this time around with the writer Jaya [Misra]. Three episodes into the narration, I realised that the writing was excellent, and it was a show I should not skip. I came on board as the character was exciting. The story allows me to play two different characters; that is challenging. Also, I am doing a love story after many years. I consciously stayed away from the genre for long.

The Show Marks Your First Collaboration With Divyanka Tripathi.
Last year, she had been a guest on my chat show, Juzzbaat. That was the only interaction I had had with Divyanka until this show came our way. Working with her was a fantastic experience. When you've been in the industry for long, it brings a sense of discipline to you. Divyanka is a perfect example of that. I seek the quality in my co-stars as I am also a disciplined actor.

Your Crackling Chemistry Has Become A Talking Point.
It took us a while to crack it. She was a bit hesitant. So, as a co-actor, I had to make her comfortable and show her that she could trust me.

How Was Your Experience Of Working With Director Pradeep Sarkar?
When I met him for the first time, I was scared. He is a man of few words. It was his wife who helped us break the ice. He has worked with seniors in the industry, yet he showered me with love and respect. He unravelled a different facet of myself as an artiste. I wasn't sure if I could pull off comedy, but he discovered my flair for the genre. Pradeep da told me that I have good comic timing.

Your Debut Web Series, Haqq Se, Is Gearing Up For A Sequel. Will You Be A Part Of It?
The team has discussed it with me, but my dates may be a problem. We are trying to figure it.

Vinay MR Mishra (DNA; September 14, 2019)

Rajeev Khandelwal, best known for playing the national crush Sujal in Kaahin Toh Hoga (2002),  has returned to the genre with Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala. The 43-year-old can be seen as Vikram, a brooding Michelin Star chef in the digital series that streamed on OTT platforms recently.

“My fans were constantly asking me to do a romantic TV show. I was quite clear that I wasn’t doing a daily soap for sure. This (Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala) was completely my thing. I thought I need to give my fans one romantic show before I become too old to do one,” he says. The romantic drama, which revolves around cooking, has two timelines. In the first part, he is an intense Chef and the other one has him showcasing his lighter side.

While you might think it would have been a task for Rajeev, who comes across as a serious guy, to get the nerve of the character, it wasn’t the case. “It came so easily,” he says about playing the younger version of Vikram, a slightly funny guy. “I knew it... I have got great comic timing since I used to be on stage and have been an emcee,” he adds.

Rajeev shares that he used to be the go-to guy for his friends, to write funny scripts for haldi, sangeet, etc.

The show primarily revolves around an estranged couple — played by him and Divyanka Tripathi — crossing their paths after a certain time. When asked how he would react to a situation when he has to work with his ex, the actor said, “I’m a positive guy. I don’t harbour ill feelings for anyone. So, if I bump into my ex and my presence will bother her life, I won’t cross my path with her. Sometimes, you do fall out of love, but that doesn’t make you my enemy.”

Giving an example, he explained, “If tomorrow my wife comes and tells me ‘Rajeev, I don’t want to live with you anymore’ and I find out that she means it, I’ll respect her and say it’s your life. I’ll do anything to make her life beautiful.”

— Zee Media Newsroom

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 31, 2018)

A striking Italian poster of Sergio Leone’s 1966 epic Spaghetti Western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is hard to miss at filmmaker Raj Kumar Gupta’s sprawling Juhu office. He admits that the film holds a special place in his heart and he picked this rare poster while vacationing in Italy a couple of years ago. Unable to cough up the names of any Hindi movies he’s loved in recent times, he goes back to mentioning Western cinematic legends and his alltime favourites — Billy Wilder and Frank Capra — and sheepishly points out that he’s not watched any Bollywood movies in the last six-seven months.

For someone who takes two years to make a film – Aamir (2008), No One Killed Jessica (2011), Ghanchakkar (2013) – you wrapped up your new film, Raid, in a few months.
(Laughs) I hope all my films get made like this! When I directed my debut film, Aamir, the enthusiasm was different, resources were limited and backing none. The leading man, Rajeev Khandelwal, fit perfectly in the script and everything fell into place in only 23 days. But the journey to Aamir began much before that because stories take years to develop.

Today, I would like to believe that I am wiser than I was 10 years ago. The gap between two of my films doesn’t bother me until someone close to me points it out and it is natural to feel bad about it. But Raid was one of those projects that came together seamlessly and it has been an absolute fun ride. There are so many variables in a film that need to come together realistically, and through all of it, the sole aim is to keep the director’s vision intact. There are so many resources that are at your disposal, and so many things completely out of your control. This one was faster than any other project because the script felt right.

The film is based on a real-life tax raid from the ’80s with Ajay Devgn playing a no-nonsense officer. When did you first learn of this case? What about it excited you so much?
The idea was narrated to me by producer Kumar Mangat, whose production team is constantly on the lookout for great stories. There are publicized raids, but this one was one of those rare stories that had lesser documentation and was pretty unheard of. So I thought about the real-life officer and his journey, with the addition of dramatic elements and immediately saw the possibility of an exciting film. Ritesh (Shah, writer of Airlift, Pink) and I started discussing the case. As storytellers, it was enjoyable for us because of the ’80s milieu, which is unique to that particular period yet remains relevant even today.

Ajay is a producer-director himself. Was he in sync with this vision?
Absolutely! Ajay is an absolute delight to work with. I got to know the intelligent, well-read and perspective actor that he is while shooting. When he reads the subject matter, he instinctively comes into the space of a scene. Raid is set in a realistic world, shot at real locations in Lucknow and other places in Uttar Pradesh and he understood this best.

Ghanchakkar didn’t quite match up to the critical acclaim of your first two films. What do you think went wrong?
There is a notion that the film generated losses for the producers, which is untrue. Yes, it was expected to do a certain kind of number at the box-office and somewhere down the line, we were all aware that it wouldn’t. It wasn’t massy. The film generated extreme reactions — more people hated it than loved it. And today, there are people who watch Ghanchakkar on TV and text me, “Hey, it wasn’t such a bad film!” As a filmmaker, I strive to not repeat myself and Ghanchakkar was an exploration of creative content. My attempt to be different, better…

What could have been different?
It’s tricky. It’s like two filmmakers making an ’80s drama — one part of the audience will call one a fantastic tribute to a bygone era and another part will discard it as a rehash of an period film. So no, at the end of the day, I am very happy with the film I made.

There was talk about a project, Section 84, with Kareena Kapoor, another film with John Abraham and Rajkummar Rao and an action-film with Sidharth Malhotra…
Kareena and I were working together on a film. When things didn’t work out, for several reasons, none of them bad, the momentum was lost. Likewise, Sidharth for Most Wanted. There was a discussion, and then we moved on. With John, I was set to produce a film, directed by my long-time assistant Amar Kaushik, who, I am very happy to say, is now making his directorial debut with another project (Stree, produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK and featuring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor). I am extremely proud of his journey.

My career has always been process and story-driven and I am lucky to have met people who have helped me in making these four films. I have taken my own time and it’s been my struggle, but I’ve always let my films speak for themselves.

Do you have plans to turn producer with a feature film this year?
Last year, I produced Aaba, Amar’s short film which bagged the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin International Festival and the National Film Award for Best Short Fiction Film. There was so much passion behind the film and I am fortunate to have been associated with it. This is what makes me a content filmmaker. I look at my journey one film at a time. The idea now is to promote newer talent and I will be producing two-three projects, some of which will mark the debut of my assistants soon.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; January 9, 2018)

Rajeev Khandelwal, who was last seen in the TV show Reporters, is all set to make a comeback after a two-year hiatus. He will foray into the digital space with a web series titled Haq Se, which is being produced by Ekta Kapoor. The duo will work together after a decade since Kahiin To Hoga was aired, which had made Rajeev a small-screen heartthrob. Here, he talks about exploring a new medium, doing films off the beaten track and why the content on TV doesn’t appeal to him...

From TV to films to web, you have explored everything.
Yes. For me, the medium doesn’t make any difference. I’m still acting and that’s what is important. With time and technology, the space will keep changing. Web has made its presence felt everywhere, after this something else may come up. The achievement should be to work on all platforms. Will I be accepted by the web, TV, film and theatre audience? Now, that would be challenging and fun.

Which medium do you find more challenging to work in?
Television is very demanding. We shoot episodes as the telecast is on and have to accommodate last-minute changes according to the audience feedback. On the other hand, I find that filming for cinema as well as web is the same because we get the script in advance, it is shot and then released either online or in theatres. But as an actor, all the three are same for me. Once I’m in front of the camera, I don’t think about the medium.

After Reporters, one would have expected to see you more on the small screen...
I got a lot of offers, but I didn’t find them exciting. Recently, I was approached for a mythological show, but I politely turned it down. I didn’t even ask what they wanted me to play because it didn’t interest me. I’m sure the shows are according to the taste that is prevalent, but the content doesn’t appeal to me. The kind of audience that used to watch Kahiin To Hoga, Kasautii Zindagii Kay or for that matter Banegi Apni Baat has deserted TV. They have either moved on to the web or are watching international series. When I’m surfing channels, I find a lot of similarity between serials, in fact, they look like copies! I think it’s one way of being in the rat race — if one show works, it leads to a lot of prototypes. I’m just hoping that something like Reporters, which was different, comes to me, then I will consider it.

You are known to take long gaps between projects and stay away from the limelight. Is it deliberate?
That’s how I am. I neither feel the need to have a PR machinery nor do I believe in posting pictures of my holidays, having an affair with somebody and breaking up! Except for Twitter, I’m not on social media. Also, work is not the be-all and end-all of my life. I feel people will not remember me if I’m not around. That way, I can start from scratch. It makes things a lot easier as there is no baggage. But whenever people do see me, they walk up and give me a smile. There is that excitement in them when I’m in a project and I wonder why. But I still feel the need to win them over with every project.

Though Reporters was not high on TRPs, you won over a new generation of viewers...
Yes, and they are surprisingly younger girls. When 15-year-old girls address me by my name and say they like me, I don’t know how to react!

What prompted you to do Haq Se?
Web is a different world and since people know I like to do diverse stuff, I was offered a lot of web shows. But I wasn’t sure how many people actually watch them. However, when I was approached for this series and was told that it is being handled by Ekta, I decided to go ahead. Ekta knows her job. When I was given the script, it blew me away. It is based on the classic novel Little Women and is basically about four sisters. Haq Se is set in Kashmir and the way it has been adapted, the Valley also becomes another character. I thought it was ambitious and my only concern was the budget because I had heard that money is tight on web shows. But the way Ekta has spent on it, the amount is bigger than any films I have been part of!

Tell us about your character in the series.
I play a doctor and like every other character in the series, he has his own quirks. What he is on the outside does not reflect what he is inside. You will see several sides to him — he is silent, brooding and idiosyncratic, but he has his reasons. There is a lot of turmoil, angst and pain in him, which you will know when you watch it.

After Kahiin To Hoga, there were problems between Ekta and you. How was that sorted out?
Ekta is one of the most professional producers and this is not the first time she and I made an attempt to work together after Kahiin To Hoga. A lot of people had a certain perception about her and me ever since I quit that show in 2005. But they didn’t know that throughout that phase, whenever both of us met at parties or events, she was polite and warm. There were a couple of occasions when we almost worked together, but it didn’t happen. So, when we met this time, I could see the same enthusiastic Ekta passionately giving me a narration the way she had done during Kahiin To Hoga. It felt as though there was no gap between us in terms of working with each other. Then, I met the same set of people at Balaji. I also caught up with Jeetuji (Jeetendra) and Shobha ji, which was great.

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 10, 2017)